1996 cavalier I have a 1996 cavalier and the anti-theft is on, however, it has manual locks. It will start but will not stay running (that is why i think it has something to do with the anti-theft). How can I fix this?

Your car has pass lock I, this is an easy fix. Simply attempt to start the car. The theft light will come on and may flash. Leave the key on after you try to start it for about 10 mintues. IF indeed it is a passlock I issues it will relearn and start up after 10minutes. If at anytime the key is turned back off after the intial start, the process must be restarted. Pass lock allows fuel to make it to the injectors and then pulse enough to get engine RPM to around 800 and then shuts the off injectors not the fuel pump. Let me know how you make out.

hi there, thanks just tried this on my cavalier and it worked. has the left lock light on flashing. tried to start, left for 15 minutes just to be sure and it started second try. car has been having issues with cutting out while driving recently and cut out on my on the motorway. doh. we have fiddled with the electric window motors recently and i wonder if that may have been what caused this. hopefully doesnt cut out on me again. i also just noticed a tiny hissing sound coming from under the car and put my head close to hear it and noticed a chemically smell, dont know if it normal. mmm. this car seems to have never ending problems. just bought this car 6 months ago. so far changed bearings, all 4 window motors have slowly stopped working. now this problem. think mite buy another car at sum point. :) thanks heaps for the advice thou. keep u posted to c if problem solved.hi there, thanks just tried this on my cavalier and it worked. has the left lock light on flashing. tried to start, left for 15 minutes just to be sure and it started second try. car has been having issues with cutting out while driving recently and cut out on my on the motorway. doh. we have fiddled with the electric window motors recently and i wonder if that may have been what caused this. hopefully doesnt cut out on me again. i also just noticed a tiny hissing sound coming from under the car and put my head close to hear it and noticed a chemically smell, dont know if it normal. mmm. this car seems to have never ending problems. just bought this car 6 months ago. so far changed bearings, all 4 window motors have slowly stopped working. now this problem. think mite buy another car at sum point. :) thanks heaps for the advice thou. keep u posted to c if problem solved.

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Hi Missy , There are a number of thing's that can cause this . Fuel system problems , ignition system problems , the PCM - powertrain control module , the PCM is the engine computer ! There are multiple sensors on this vehicle as with all cars for the 80's on . From 1996 on they have more electronic modules then before , Anti-theft systems , air bags, anti - lock brakes etc.
Does you car have any lights light on the dash ? check engine ? Security ?. When you first turn on your key the dash lights light up an after 7 seconds the lights should go out , Do they ? You should check for DTC's - diagnostic trouble codes . That means hooking your car up to a scan tool . If it starts an shuts back off right away I would think a anti-theft system problem . If the anti-theft thinks it being stolen it disables the fuel injection in some cases !

Attempt to start the vehicle. Leave the ignition on until the THEFT SYSTEM indicator turns off (about 10 minutes). Turn the ignition switch off. Leave the ignition switch off with key in for about 10 minutes. Attempt to start vehicle.

Check timing belt. Remove the oil filler cap and look at the rocker arm. If you get someone to turn the engine while you watch and you see no movement... it's a broken belt. If you see movement, perhaps the belt has slipped. Replace belt and re time.

it probably is just take your car to chevy dealership to have fixed for free. there was a recall about five years ago fixing the problem. problem was it was the anti theft system was catching cavaliers on fire blowing every fuse from the steering wheel all the way to the motor like mine did lol. so fix asap

Actually i doubt the switch is in default here. Especially that if i'm not mistaken the theft light on those was only on the monsoon radio systems and only tells the status of the theft lock on the radio. And if the theft lock light on the radio comes on it's because it thinks it's being unplugged. Taking that in account and reading all the problem you have with the car, i'm strongly leaning toward a grounding problem. So check the negative post on the battery to be sure its not moving or broken in any way, and verify all the grounding wire and straps and replace them if needed. Not many people know this but the ground wires on a car are 100 times more important than the positive wires. Without the grounds, the current has nowhere to go on any components, so that means even the spark plugs stop sparking. If all the grounds are good, just check the battery itself and the alternator just to be sure they are not causing these problems. And if all else fails, then it would be option to change the ignition switch/cylinder. Pretty sure though that you can find one in a scrap yard for less than 150$, those cavaliers are practically raining everywhere in the scrap yards, and you can also use one from a pontiac sunfire which is the same car. Also, you can use most switches from other GMs in the same years, like a grand am, grand prix, lumina, etc. Just make sure that the car you take it from has basically the same equipment more or less than your cavalier so that the zenith has the same number of wires as yours and same positions also.

It is probably not the anti theft system if it cranks over fast then slow it is your timing chain. If you want to try resetting the anti theft system disconnect the battery cables for 24 hours and reconnect them.